Maspalomas, Seaside Hotel Palm Beach

We visited the Seaside Hotel Palm Beach in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) for two weeks and all in all we had a great time. Our room was on the second floor and was a decent size and had a great view of the pool area. The bed was a large king-size and very comfortable. The reception area is bright and offers free wi-fi access for those who need to use it, free fruit for guests at most of the tables and free welcome champagne on arrival.

The pool areas are great. The larger pool is for families with children and is colder and deeper than the more private spa type pool. The smaller pool area feels more intimate and personal and the pool has various spa facilities which you can take advantage of for free. Children under 16 are not allowed into this pool and on the odd occasion in the two weeks we were there when children did venture in, the Pool Service staff gently asked them to leave and herded them back to the main pool! This area is also where water aerobics takes place every week day from about 12:45. It's a welcome break from the usual quiet surroundings.

Also available at the hotel is the extensive Spa and Wellness centre and also a nudist area behind closed gates for any of you who are brave enough! There is also quite a good gym at the pool and a tennis court with a trainer offering you lessons if you would like them. You can also take advantage of free Thai Chi and Yoga every weekday if you feel like it. There is also a table tennis table, huge chess board and a couple of other games you can play in the shaded grounds, which are also meticulously maintained.

We stayed on a half board basis and neither the breakfast or the evening food ever disappointed. You eat in the restaurant four days out of seven and the remaining three you have on the terrace outside at the hotel's BBQ night which were our favourite evenings.

The only slight gripes we had about our stay are the fact that the restaurant seems a little too formal considering the relaxed atmosphere at all other times. Mind you, other guests appeared to like dressing up for the occasion and this is probably why but once you are over the initial "am I smart enough" thoughts, you notice that some of the other guests are wearing jeans and sandals etc and there is no pressure from anyone to dress up at all so don't be alarmed by this. One word of warning though, even on BBQ night, men are not allowed to wear shorts, even if they are tailored. You must wear long trousers for dinner.

The bar area also seems to have quite strange lighting which does not lend itself to a relaxing atmosphere in our opinion. The entertainment was also not to our taste at all but then again you can skip that by having a nightcap at the pool bar which is much more pleasant. The only other problem we encountered was when we tried to hire a car and the agency representative did not speak any English. After much gesticulating and nodding we seemed to get there in the end and although seemed annoying at the time, we can now look back at the experience and laugh. The concierge and other staff are on the whole are very good and we had no problem at all.

The hotel is excellently located. It is just a two minute walk from the extensive beach at Maspalomas and also only a ten minute walk from the many shops and other restaurants on the Meloneras strip. It will only cost you '5 if you want to get a taxi in to the centre of Playa del Ingles. Generally this is an excellent hotel and I would recommend it to all.